Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Spectacular Exit
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Why do you need a bag?
Especially, why does a woman need a handbag?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I'd pondered that question deeply once before.
I'd mulled it over alone and then had a heated discussion with friends in our group chat.
The conclusion we'd reached was:
"Isn't it because there's so much stuff to carry around?"
Thinking about it after hearing that, yeah, it did seem like women had a ton of things to tote.
Makeup, tissues, pads, wallet, and so on.
So, a handbag was essential.
Since you're going to buy one anyway, why not go for a luxury brand? That made sense.
Obsessing over designer bags when you're broke is a problem, but otherwise, no big deal.
"But then, don't I really not need one?"
I didn't do makeup, and I couldn't think of a reason to carry tissues yet.
Pads... maybe someday.
"That's suddenly a bit scary."
A total unknown territory.
I knew about it in my head, but never having experienced it made me anxious.
Fear comes from the unknown, after all.
"The Ers store is just ahead. Normally, only those with reservations can enter, but VIPs can come in without one."
Lost in those thoughts for a moment, Mr. Lee Chang-jin, who was guiding me, spoke up.
I turned at his words and looked at the store.
It was painted in a luxurious gold color.
Like the shell of those fancy chocolates with almonds inside.
That elegant gold on the really round ones.
I held back from blurting it out, figuring everyone would give me weird looks.
"However, items like the Curly Bag or Vine Bag can't be purchased same-day, so we'd appreciate your understanding."
Curly Bag? Vine Bag?
Looks like there are a ton of handbag types.
Listening to Mr. Lee Chang-jin's explanation, I cautiously entered the Ers store.
"Whoa..."
It was different.
The atmosphere was worlds apart from the two luxury stores I'd visited before.
How to put it?
The jacket place felt like a high-end clothing boutique, and the coat store was a general luxury shop with all sorts of things.
"This feels like a space just for VIPs."
A store for chaebols.
The vibe made it feel natural to envy those entering.
In simple terms, it was like a place you needed qualifications to enter.
Non-VIPs couldn't even get in without a reservation, so that tracked.
"Welcome. Are you looking for something specific?"
The most polite and formal greeting I'd received yet.
Or maybe the atmosphere made it feel that way.
The vibe screamed "you don't belong here," and my body froze up a bit.
"No. I'm here to buy stuff."
Arcana tier.
I came here for that, so I straightened my shoulders confidently.
But thinking it and actually doing it were different; my body wasn't cooperating.
"I'm... here to look at bags."
"May I ask what kind of bag you're seeking?"
This was tough.
Should've looked it up first.
As I hesitated, my eyes met Mr. Lee Chang-jin's.
He smiled kindly at me and spoke to the staff.
"The customer would like a bag or other item available for immediate purchase today. Could you guide her?"
"Nice shot, Chang-jin."
I gave him a thumbs-up in my mind.
"Of course. The bags available for same-day purchase are the Garden Bag, S Bag, Coco Bag, and Linda Bag. Do you have a preference?"
I had no clue.
I came to buy a bag but knew zilch about them. What an ironic situation.
Less irony, more my fault for rushing in unprepared.
Anyway, hearing the names snapped me out of it, and I picked the one that sounded best.
"The Linda Bag, please."
"Understood. This way."
As I followed the staff, Mr. Lee Chang-jin spoke cautiously.
"We'll wait here. Enjoy your time."
I wanted to drag him along. I needed a luxury interpreter.
But you can't grab someone who's politely heading out to wait.
With no choice, I gave a slight bow and followed the staff deeper in.
After a short walk, we reached the store's depths.
Not really deep, but the winding paths made it feel that way.
"This lineup is the Linda Bags available for purchase today: from here, 26, 30, 36, and mini sizes. The mini and 30 are sold out, so they'd require reservations, but the 26 and 36 are available same-day."
"Ah... okay."
The bag called the Linda Bag.
It looked a bit different from the Ers bags I knew.
The ones I remembered were big ones you carried with one hand.
Anyway, I started examining them one by one to pick the best.
Available today: 26 and 36.
36 seemed a tad big, so I focused on the 26.
"Hmm..."
Designs were all similar, so color was key.
What color suits me? No idea, making it hard to choose.
Even same leather had subtly different hardware colors, adding to the dilemma.
Gold was too flashy, silver too plain.
After serious browsing, I narrowed it to two.
One: gold hardware, gray leather.
Other: silver hardware, deep brown leather.
Pondering which, a thought hit me.
"Do I have to pick just one?"
"Excuse me..."
"Yes, feel free."
"These two. I want both. How much?"
"...The Etoupe color is 13 million, Elephant Gray is 12 million."
I inwardly whistled at the prices.
"What the hell? Bags this pricey? Buying one hits Arcana."
I pondered briefly.
Even with 500 billion, was this overspending?
25 million on mere bags, not even clothes. Bags I might not carry.
"Four more like this is 100 million. 500 billion would take 5,000 more..."
Nah.
Plenty to spare. Just buy them.
"I'll take both. Package them up."
"Yes, noted. Please wait here; we'll prepare them."
Off the staff went, guiding me somewhere else.
The spot had a solid wood door to a fitting room.
Fitting room in name, but more like a small room.
Inside: table, mirror, all sorts of stuff.
"Please wait here briefly; we'll bring the items."
She shut the door and vanished.
Alone in the plush chair, it felt weird.
"...Spending 100 million is gonna be easy."
I chuckled softly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Platinum..."
The card had evolved again.
If it's gonna keep leveling up like this, why not just give me the Arcana card straight away?
"Maybe a bit much."
I slipped the card into my wallet, along with the business card from the Ers staffer.
Seller, Choi Jinia.
Unique name; it'd stick.
She said to call for new arrivals or other bags.
Going through all this really made me feel like a chaebol.
Especially exiting with two boxed luxury bags—everyone nearby stared.
Still embarrassing.
But it felt good.
Today's department store review: spending money never gets old.
"About 50 million left now?"
Platinum next was Diamond.
Annual spend over 70 million.
Leveling up store tiers felt way easier than games; I nearly burst out laughing.
"Where to next?"
Mr. Lee Chang-jin asked about the next stop.
My lips kept curling up; once I hit Arcana, his smile might reach his ears. Worrying thought.
Where to?
I pulled out my phone to check the time.
4 p.m.
Spent more time at Ers than expected.
"Ah, right."
No more fumbling for my phone to check time.
"...I'd like to look at watches too."
"Right away."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Deputy Lee Chang-jin had an experience so bizarre, he wouldn't need drinking snacks for a while.
The youngest Arcana customer at 21.
He'd served plenty of Arcana clients, but none like her.
Money? No doubt loaded.
But she seemed somehow amateurish.
Wanting high-end stores, piling luxury goods, buying same-day without hesitation.
Far from the chaebol shopping style he knew.
"Lottery winner?"
Even so, could a lotto winner blow cash this mindlessly?
"Too much for lotto money."
He'd seen plenty of winners splurging at the store.
Similar patterns, but something off.
Even big spenders pause at insane prices.
Like casually trying on and buying a 37 million watch? No lotto winner does that.
And she bought tons more.
Hit Arcana in one day and got the card.
No lotto winner pulls that.
Even sudden rich folks need serious cash for this.
1,800 Arcana members in Korea.
And she'd snagged one at 21.
"No clue."
Lee Chang-jin pondered briefly, then gave up.
Best not to tangle with chaebols or tycoons.
Left alone at the entrance as the youngest Arcana said she'd fetch the car.
Three burly guys holding heaps of luxury bags at the door? Striking sight.
Passersby all gawked.
Used to it, Lee stood stone-faced, but his two staffers weren't.
One, itching to gossip, finally spoke.
"Deputy, something's off, right?"
The gossip hound.
Lee shushed him instantly.
"Watch your mouth."
He'd thought it weird too.
"Even for a lotto winner... her spending's different."
"...Lotto sounds nice."
The other staffer, eyeing the luxuries, muttered softly.
Lee sighed shortly at them.
"Both of you, shut it. No loose talk."
They quieted.
But soon, they stared at the Arcana customer in bewilderment.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"N-no, it's fine."
Her ride: a cheap domestic kei car.
Spacious trunk made it popular, but for a 100-million-a-day spender? Lacking.
The two behind Lee tilted heads at the VIP.
"Help load the bags? Oh, leave the coffee one out."
They loaded the trunk as told.
"Stuff in the trunk worth more than the car..."
Lee thought that while carefully closing it.
Then.
"It's nothing much, but you worked hard today... a small gift."
Handing out pricey beans from the coffee bag.
"No need for this..."
"Just take it."
Forcing one into protesting Lee's hand, she hopped into the kei car and sped off.
"What the heck..."
Lee and the two staffers stood dazed, clutching beans, watching the vanishing car.